Best Spotting Scope Under 500 Dollars 2024

The spotting scope can be one of the best purchases for a hunter or birdwatcher. It can be your friend to help you get your rifle sighted in and help you find your game out in the field.

There are a lot of choices to pick from out on the market today, with some scopes coming in at very low prices and others costing as much as a used car. But how do you know which scope has the quality you need. Looking for the best spotting scope under 500 dollars is a good starting point and price point to begin with.

Our Pick: Leupold SX-1 Ventana Spotting Scope

With the name Leupold behind it, you can count on this spotting scope doing exactly what it says it does. Known for amazing optics, the 15-45X60mm lens will, without question, give you a great crystal clear image of whatever you are looking at. This scope uses Leupold’s patented Multicoat 4 technology on its lenses, has a retractable sunshield, angled eyepiece, and is a fully waterproof and fog proof sealed scope.

This will make a great hunting scope with the tough build of its housing and the ability to wear gloves and still be able to operate the controls. This combination of features makes this an actually very useful spotting scope in colder weather, as you won’t have to take your gloves off in the biting wind. We know this is something that goes hand-in-hand with winter hunting seasons, especially after sitting in the stand for six hours plus just waiting for something to show up.

This Leupold will be there with you through all the rough times as well as all of the pictures capturing your victory moments with its durability. With its high-performance quality and price point, this is easily one of the best spotting scopes under 500 dollars.

Runner-Up: Bushnell Model 781818 Spotting Scope

The Spacemaster by Bushnell has a 15-45X60mm zoomable lens that will give you a clear view of whatever your target is. It’s built tough to withstand the rigors of hunting with enough precision for most individual’s shooting range needs.

In the toughness department, it has a rubber-armored housing with multi-coated lenses and is also totally waterproof and fog proof. These three things combined with great optics using BaK-4 prisms and Bushnell’s patented RainGuard HD makes this a very good choice for being the best spotting scope under $500.

It comes with a backpack carrying case and a tabletop tripod that you can also mount onto your truck or car window. Bushnell is so sure about the spotting scope that they gave this one a lifetime warranty, making it likely to be around for years of service.

Also Great: Konus Model 7122 Spotting Scope

The Konus Model 7122 spotting scope has combined its 20-60X100mm optics with some toughness to create a spotting scope that is good for hunters and birders alike. This spotting scope comes with a camera attachment which is a really nice feature for a spotting scope since you don’t have to go out and purchase one separately.

On the other hand, it does not come with a tripod which means you will have to pick one up, but at least then you can get the tripod that is best suited for your uses, either a small tabletop or a full 60″ tripod. They’ve built this scope with an antishock rubber armored housing, making it waterproof and fog proof, providing you with a good spotting scope to handle the rigors of hunting. Designed with brightness and clarity of image in mind, this spotting scope will let you turn up the power without having the extreme darkening as seen in many of the lesser scopes.

It also has a pretty good FOV (field of view) of about 88′ at 1000 yards at 20x, meaning you can see the game out at that distance or simply be able to see the targets easily at the shooting range. This is one of the best spotting scopes for under $500 due to its wide magnification range, impressive objective lens size, and durability. It also comes with a carrying case.

Honorable Mention: Alpen Model ABSS711-P Spotting Scope

This scope has a lot of great features for the outdoorsman. It is relatively small, measuring only 7.5 inches long, and weighs in around 10 ounces. These two features make this a great scope on those long hunts that require a lot of hoofing around the backcountry. Its 20X50mm clear optics make a great stand or heavily wooded area scope. It is designed with shockproof housing and is waterproof. The nitrogen-filled body makes it fog resistant.

This lightweight and handy scope is great for shotgunners and bow hunters. It doesn’t have the range that the others on the list have, but its price point makes this a great backup or on-the-fly scope that isn’t going to take up a lot of room or add much weight. For many customers, this is one of the best spotting scopes under 500.

What is the Best Spotting Scope Under 500 Dollars in 2024?

On this quest for the best spotting scope under 500 dollars, the Leupold SX-1 Ventana is our number one pick. Coming in with a great average price point and reputation, this scope offers much value to the dollar. Its durability and brilliant optics make it stand out against the competition, even in this list of high-quality and great performance spotting scopes.

This Leupold model is heavier than some and larger than others in length, but it wins this round when it comes to features and performance. Having this on your next hunt or trip to the range should give you the edge you may need to come back with a win.

Sources and Official Brand Websites:

 Bushnell  |  Leupold  |  Konus  | Optics Talk